Bach’s St Matthew Passion is always described as a double-choir composition for two choirs and two orchestras. Two large ensembles play in dialogue, and the score presents a symmetrical structure. The scoring of the two groups of singers and players is identical, and each ensemble has four soloists for the arias. On the stage one often sees two equal groups of singers, and an orchestra likewise divided exactly into two. The Evangelist and Jesus are often the only exceptions to this impressive symmetry.
There are reasons enough, however, to look at the score in another way. Firstly, there is the Bible story itself, which is told entirely in Coro I (Bach speaks of Coro, by which he means all the singers and players of one ensemble, not just the choir). In his score, Bach even distinguishes the Evangelist’s part in Coro I by writing it in red ink. The role of Coro II, besides its contribution to the cries of the crowd in the story and to the chorales, is limited to delivering commentary.
In the organization of the score as well there are considerable distinctions: almost all the important arias are to be found in Coro I – and there are twice as many as in Coro II – and the composition technique reveals major differences. In contrast to the great wealth of instrumental solos in Coro I, the writing for Coro II is much simpler: the instruments often double other parts, and instrumental solos are entirely absent. The score gives a strong impression of hierarchy, rather than equality or symmetry.
The Netherlands Bach Society
Tracklist
Please note that the below previews are loaded as 44.1 kHz / 16 bit.Total time: 02:44:37
Additional information
| Label | |
|---|---|
| SKU | 32511 |
| Qualities | |
| Channels | 2ch Stereo, 5 Channel Surround Sound, 2ch Stereo & 5ch Surround |
| Artists | |
| Composers | |
| Genres | |
| Cables | Van den Hul |
| Digital Converters | Meitner AD/DA DSD converter |
| Mastering Engineer | Jared Sacks |
| Mastering Equipment | B+W 803 diamond series |
| Microphones | Bruel and Kjaer, Schoeps |
| Mixing Board | Rens Heijnis custon design |
| Awards | audiophile-audition-5, bbc-disc-of-the-month, bbc-music-5-5, classics-today-10, IRR, kulturradio-5k, Toccata-CDotMonth |
| Conductors | |
| Instruments | |
| Original Recording Format | |
| Producer | Paul Janse |
| Recording Engineer | Jared Sacks |
| Recording location | Naarden Holland 2001 Live Concerts |
| Recording Software | Merging Technologies |
| Recording Type & Bit Rate | DSD64 |
| Speakers | Audio Lab |
| Release Date | January 9, 2014 |
Press reviews
Audiophile Audition
(…) Fortunately, this is not just an exciting performance from a conceptual standpoint, but it is also very well sung and played. (…) beautifully expressive throughout and captured in sound that is clear and truthful. (…) you have a listening experience that should please no matter how often you return to it. (…) Superb, and recommended unreservedly!
Audiophile Audition 5*
SA-CD.net
(…) a wonderful achievement in both musical and technical terms by all concerned. (…) Channel’s superb 5.0 DSD recording reproduces their sound with the richness and glow of a Rembrandt canvas, while at the same time capturing the lovely acoustic of the Grote Kerk, Naarden in the Netherlands. (…) Whatever other recordings you may have in your library, Veldhoven’s inspired reading, with its exceptional blend of committed musicianship and scholarship should definitely be auditioned by all who love this work. (…) This is without doubt a top recommendation and anyone receiving this set, as an Easter gift, will surely be delighted.
SA-CD.net *FIVE stars
Leeuwarder Courant
(…) misschien nog wel het grootste pluspunt: het grootse orkest, de welluidende solisten en de donderende koren zijn hier door van Veldhoven integraal op zijn kop gezet (…)
De Telegraaf
Wij maken kennis met een rustig vertelde, overwegend milde maar doorleefde interpretatie van een dirigent die zich van nature meer bij beschouwelijkheid thuis voelt dan bij het dramatische.
Katholiek Nieuwsblad
(…) Van Veldhoven is niet uit op effectbejag. Hij laat de Nederlandse Bachvereniging op hoog niveua musicieren.
Hifi Video Test
(…) Het solisten-panel, het koor, en het orkest zingen en spelen op de toppen van hun kunnen en van wat mogelijk is, menselijkerwijs gesproken. Van deze muziek kun je nooit genoeg krijgen. Aanraakbaar bijna. Zou Bach het zo bedoeld hebben?
HVT
Maerkische Allgemeine
(…) das Continuo ist perfekt organisiert. Gerd Türck ‘spricht’ den Evangelisten mit beneidenswerter Ruhe (…)
International Record Review: ‘Outstanding’
(…) What makes this performance not just revolutionary but an absolute must-have for lovers of this music is the sheer quality of the performance from The Netherlands Bach Society. (…) If any recording warrants the ‘Outstanding’ tag, this does. (…) as a glorious, life-affirming and utterly irresistible piece of music-making, this is a league of its own.(…)
International Record Review: ‘Outstanding’
BBC Music Magazine, Choral CD of the Month
Unequalled: voices vie under Jos van Veldhoven (…) Sensitive surround-sound recording retains admirabel balance between the eight parts, differentiated by timbre rather than numbers. (…) A new spatial and tonal experience from van Veldhoven.
BBC Music Magazine, Choral CD of the Month
Classics Today
Jos van Veldhoven, who’s proven himself on so many other recordings of major Bach works, including the above-mentioned releases on Channel Classics, makes excellent decisions here. (…) this exceptionally well balanced, thoughtfully paced reading, vividly brought to life by the performers and recording team, deserves a place among the reference versions. (…) And again, the packaging is stunning and a treat in itself–in all, a collector’s dream, a listener’s treasure.
Classics Today 10/10
Alte Musik Aktuell, CD des Monats
(…) Seine Tempi sinds angenehm, elegant und moderat, zuweilen aber auch durchaus spritzig und filigran, sehr gut kontrastierend. Die Choräle, immer ein Problem für sich, kommen sauber und in völlig richtigem Tempo. Die solistenpartien sind sehr gut besetzt, das Orchester spielt aufmerksam und mit technische Brillanz. Der Text ist großteils gut verständlich, der Evangelist Gerd Türk singt souverän. Und das Publikum verhält sich mucksmäuschenstill, kein Husten, kein Räuspern. (…)
Alte Musik Aktuell, CD des Monats
Music Web
(…) Kudos to Channel Classics for their sumptuous production standards. Not only is the packaging beautiful, but the sound engineering is to a high standard and based on some very original thinking about the potential of high definition sound.
Music Web
Klassik.com
Nun hat Jos van Veldhoven die Reihe seiner großen Bachaufnahmen mit der Matthäus-Passion komplett gemacht – wiederum mit erlesenen Vokalisten und farbenreicher instrumentaler Arbeit. (…) Der Klang zeigt eine sehr schöne Räumlichkeit (…)Vielleicht kann man es so zusammenfassen: Jos van Veldhoven und seine Mitstreiter präsentieren eine wundervoll ausmusizierte Matthäus-Passion – mit gestalterischer Geduld und expressiver Leidenschaft. (…) Eine diskographisch also deutlich konkurrenzfähige Matthäus-Passion.
Klassik.com
Opus Magazine Sweden
The St.Matthew Passion definitely belongs to the most demanding pieces of music, even for the finest musicians and singers,no conductor has fully mastered the task.At least not until now. (…) Jos van Veldhoven and his Netherlands Bach Society have previously presented the probably most virtuoso Mass in B-minor on CD. Rarely has such a major piece of art sounded so natural and obvious,from the first to the last bar. (…) Peter Harvey’s Christ in St.Matthew Passion is the most harmonious performance of the part I have ever heard. (…) Never has the amazing dissonance of the final choir sounded with such emotional quality. (…) With its excellent recording and artistically designed box,this record will be hard to surpass.
Opus Magazine, Sweden [highest points, six stars, for both artistic performance and sound quality.]
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